Grating



E. L. TARoF 2,660,102

GRATING 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 23, 195o FIGB.-

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E. L. TAROF Nov. 24, 1953 GRATING Filed Feb. 2a, 195o- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC-3.4.

Lllll lli rr .O Mmmm NT. R wL/Vm NT I A E. L. TAROF Nov. 24, 1953 GRATING Filed Feb. 28. 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTCR ERNEST L. TAROF BY j I A ORNEYS.

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E. L. TAROF 2,660,102

GRATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 24, 1953 Filed Feb. 28, 195o Z am Patented Nev. ,243, 1953 UNITED srA'rss TENT OFFICE;

1 Claim. i

'Ihis invention `relates to open iioor gratings such as are employed in bridges, viaducts and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved grating which is simple in construction, can be readily manufactured in large quantities at reduced cost and which can be assembledwith relative ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified grating structure whose parts can be manufactured in" standardized forms and fabricated-readily into various types of surface patterns. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighter grating without any sacrifice in thc strength of the structure and at a reduced cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved grating which will reduce the danger of ice collection and the hazard of skidding. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide animproved grating structure which enables closer association of the grating panels with one another and the provision of a continuous uniform surface pattern with Suchintegratedpanels and which can be readily and securely attached to the traffic bearing supporting structure.

tler objects rof the invention as well as the advantages and novel details of construction thereof will become apparent from a perusal of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of a unit or section of grating; Fig. 2 is a sectionalview'taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view similar to, Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention; Fig. 4 is a view similar to` Fig. l, but showing the grating assembled to provide a rectangular surface pattern; Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of a unit or section of a modied form of grating;

Fig. l is a sectional View taken along the liney I-'I of Fig. 46; Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken along the line 8`8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 shows in section, the various types of truss bars which may be utilized in the construction of the structures shown in Figs. 6 to 8 and l0 to 12; Fig. l0 is a fragmentary plan View of another form of the invention; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional vieu.A taken along the line IIv-II of Fig. Fig. 12 is a similar view taken along the line I2--I2 of Fig. 10, and Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the grating illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 stiffened by truss bars.

Before entering into a description of the aforesaid drawings, it might be well to irst point out that the traine bearing supporting structure upon which the grating of this invention will be mounted, usually has side girders or trusses extending longitudinally of the structure, spacedapart oor beams extending transversely between the side girders and secured at their ends to the latter, and spaced-apart stringers intermediate and substantially parallel to the side girders and between and secured at their ends to the floor beams. The floor grating rests on the tops of the oor beams, the stringers and the side girders Whose grate bearing top surfaces are in substantially the same plane. It will also be understood that the fioor grating is usually made in sections or units of convenient size for ease in fabrication and erection and such units or sections are formed into an integral grating on the supporting structure.

As is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,

each unit or section of grating includes a plu- 1 rality of parallel load carrying beams I which I are spaced approximately six inches apart in the unit and which rest on the oor beams,

stringers and side girders of the supporting structure, as is indicated in Fig. 2 of the` drawings. The body of each beam I is approximately l one-quarter inch thick throughout its depth, which is approximately five inches. The lower flange or footing 2 of each beam I is approximately three-quarters of an inch high and apwidth of approximately one-eighth of an inch and the shoulders 3 of each beam are formed on a flange which is located intermediate vthe. top edge of the beam and the horizontal center line of such beam and closer to the latter than the former. Resting on and supported by the shoull ders 3, 3 intermediate each pair of adjacent beams I are spaced, substantially parallel grate bearing bars 5 (note Fig. l). The grate bearing bars 5 intermediate each pair of beams I are in substantial alignment with the grate bars '5 intermediate the other pairs of beams I. As is shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the grate bearing bars 5 may each consist of a narrow metal plate having a length substantially equal to the space between the upper portions 6 of each pair of beams I above the shoulders 3 3 thereof, so that such bar may rest securely on the shoulders 3 of adjacent beams. Each bar 5 is secured in position on the shoulders 3 of the adjacent beams I by welds 'I which unite it to the upper portions 6 of such beams. Mounted on the grate bearing bars 5 intermediate the upper portions 6 of adjacent load carrying beams I is a straight bar 8 arranged parallelly to such upper portions 6 and two crimped bars 9, 9, each located between the straight bar 8 and an upper portion 5 of a beam I. The upper portions of the beams I above the plates 5, the straight bars 8 and the crimped bars 9 which are all equal in depth so that their upper surfaces are in substantially the same plane, are secured together at their points of contact. Rivets I are commonly employed for this purpose, as illustrated" in the drawings, but welding or other suitable means may be employed in place of rivets. The straight bars 8 and crimped bars 9 have a thickness'of approximately one-quarter inch.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the upper portions 6 of the load carrying beams I form an integral part of the grating so as to provide a uniform, continuous flooring design or surface pattern. Due to the fact that such beam portions 6 are relatively thin and the shoulders 3 on the 'beams I are relatively narrow, any danger of ice collecting on the grating is practically eliminated, and the hazard of skidding is substantially reduced. The possibility of skidding may be decreased by providing cut-outs I2 in the top edges of the bars 8 and 9 and the beams I. The stresses imparted to the grating by traic are transmitted directly to the load carrying beams I through the shoulders 3 and the upper portions 6 thereof. Inasmuch as each beam I is symmetrical in form, relatively thin and of substantially uniform thickness throughout, with relatively narrow shoulders for taking up stresses on the grating and with footings of a predetermined conguration, such as shown, the neutral axis of each beam is in the horizontal center line thereof,V thereby providing a strong structure which, for its weight, is capable of withstanding greater load stresses than grating structures heretofore known. As each load carrying beam I is of a relatively simple, symmetrical design, several of such beams can be placed directly alongside one another and readily united into an integral unit, and the ends of such beams can readily 'be secured, as by welding, to side beams in the supporting structure or securely iitted in corners of such structure. It will also be noted, that the design of the beams I is such that the parts of the grating may readily be assembled thereon from the top and without the necessity of providing slots or openings in such beams for the assemblage of such grating parts, and that sections or units of the grating may be laid in close association with one another without a break in the continuity of the assembled integral flooring.

It will furthermore be noted, as will hereinafter become more clear, that the type of beam I is disclosed, makes it possible to standardize the load carrying beams for gratings, whether such gratings are of the type shown in Figs. l and 2, or of the type which provides a rectangular surface pattern and whether the grate bearing bars are of the type shown in Figs.Y 1 and 2, or of any other form which may be supported by or hung from the horizontal shoulders 3 formed on such beams. This permits the standardization of such beams, resulting in less cost of manufacture and easier fabrication.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a type of grate bearing bar 5' which may be hung from the shoulders 3 of adjacent beams I, and whose ends are provided with cut-outs II, enabling the ends of the bar to straddle the enlarged portions or flanges 4 of such beams and come into contact with the body of the beam below such enlarged portions. The advantage of this construction is that any horizontal stresses on the grate bearing bars will be compensated k to a greater extent in the region of the strongest Vparts of such 'beams and closer to the neutral drawings is essentially similar in its structural features to the constructions previously described and further illustrates the lexibleness of de sign which may (be accomplished with the basic elements of the grating of this invention. In this embodiment, the load carrying beams I are similar in construction to the previously described beams I, except that their upper portions 6 are provided with vertical slots I5 adapted to receive the vertically disposed grate bearing bars or plates I6. The slots I5 do not extend the entire depth of the beam portions 6'. Provided at spaced intervals along the lower edges of bars I6 are slots I1, which receive the remainders of the beam portions 5 below the slots I5 therein and enable the lower edge portions of such bars adjacent to the slots I'I to rest on the shoulders 3' provided on the beams I. The depth of the bars I6 is the same as the depths of the beam portions 6', so that the upper edges of the beams I and the bars I6 are in substantially the same horizontal plane. The bars I 6 are provided along their upper edges with open aligned slots I8 for receiving the cross bars I9. The slots I8 are preferably wedge-shaped at their lower or inner ends and the bars I9 which have a slightly greater depth than such slots are forced in by pressure so that metal from such bars is caused to ow into the wedged portions of the slots in bringing the upper edges of the bars I9 Hush with 'bars I6, thereby effectively locking the bars I6 and I9 together. The structure may be made more rigid by providing welding 20 along the edges of the slots I5, I'I and IB. Cut-outs 2| may be provided in the upper edges of the beams I' and the bars I9 to reduce the possibility of skidding.

It will be noted that the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 while possessing the advantages of the previously described structures is much simpler in design and embodies fewer readily assembled parts without any sacrifice of strength. The parts are securely interlocked to provide a rigid structure without the aid of bolts and with no weakening in the structural strength of the several parts.

In order to stien the grating structure and to equalize the stresses to which it is subjected in use, there may be interwoven with the load carrying beams thereof, truss bars of any suitable cross sectional configuration, such as is shown for example, in Fig. 9 of the drawings. One method by which these advantages may be attained is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawings. In the grating structure shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the load carrying beams 2I are essentially similar to the previously described beams I, differing from the latter only in the respect that the horizontal shoulders 23 thereof, are formed by an enlargement or flange 24, Whichis triangularly-shaped in cross section instead of beingrectangularlyshaped as the enlargements 4 of beams I. In View of the truss bars incorporated in this structure, ,there may or may not be provided therein, grate bearing bars such as the bars shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. If the grate bearing bars 5 are dispensed with, the crimped bars 29 which are bolted to the straight bars 28 and the upper portions of beams 29,`re`st directly upon the shoulders 23 of the load carrying beams, as is shown in Figs. 6 to 8 ofthe drawings. Extending transversely of the beams 2| and interwoven upon the latter, are truss bars 30 and'3l, arranged in substantially parallel, spaced, alternate relation. As will be seen from Figs. 6 and 7, the truss bars 30 extend from the top of one beam 2|, down under an adjacent beam 2|, then up to the top of the next adjacent beam 2|, and over the latter, and the next two adjacent beams 2|, whereupon the pattern is repeated. Thus, the truss bars 33 are woven so that they pass over three adjacent beams 2|, then down under the next beam 2|, then over the three next adjacent beams, etc. The truss bars 3| are Woven in a similar fashion on the beams 2 but are arranged so that the beams 2| under which the truss bars 3B pass, are the intermediate beams in the sets of three adjacent beams, over which such truss bars 3| pass. Thus, the stresses which are imparted to the load bearing beams in the use of the grating, are borne in part by the truss bars 30 and 3|, and through such bars and the beams 2|, are distributed over the grating structure to reduce the strain on any particular portion of such structure. The upper portions of the beams 2 i, straight bars 28 and crimped bars 29 may be grooved or cut out to provide anchoring seats for the truss bars 30, wherever the latter overlie such parts and to bring such overlying portions of the truss bars at least flush with the upper surfaces of such beams 2| and bars 28 and 29. The upper edges of the beams 2|, straight bars 28 and crimped bars 29 over which the truss bars 3| pass, may be provided with shallow grooves or left ungrooved, so that the portions of such truss bars overlying such edges will project above the road pattern, thus providing a longitudinally extending series of spaced upwardly projecting truss portions 35 (note Fig. 8), which extend in the direction of the traic and which will function to prevent sidewise skidding of cars on the grating. It will of course be understood that all truss bars 3|) and 3| may project above road level or be sunk below road level, or be arranged as desired for the purposes intended.

In Fig. 13 of the drawings, truss bars 30 and 3| similar to the above described truss bars 3D and 3|, respectively, are shown applied to the type of grating illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. In View of the similarity of the gratings in Figs. 4, 5 and 13, the same reference characters have been applied to similar parts in all three gures.

The load on the grating structure may be distributed to a greater degree by passing one set of spaced truss bars 32 over and under adjacent beams 2| and by passing the other set of spaced truss bars 33, which are alternately arranged with the truss bars 32, over each beam 2| and under each straight bar 28, as is shown in Figs. to 12 of the drawings. Thus, every other beam 2| will have both truss bars 32 passing thereunder and truss bars 33 passing thereover :and all straight bars 28 will have truss bars 33 supportvaried, depending upon the results which are desired to be accomplished by their use. It will be understood that the truss bars 32 and 33 may be arranged with respect to the beams, straight bars and crimped bars in the manner previously described with respect to bars 30 and 3| to prevent sidewise skidding if the grating is laid so that the beams 2| are arranged transverse to the direction of travel. If the grating is laid so that such beams are in parallelism with the direction of travel, the same results can be attained by having the upper edges 0f the beams 2| and bars 28 project above the road surface and by providing cut-outs so that the overlying portions of the trusses are below road level, as is shown in Figs. 1l and l2 of the drawings. Thus, by using these constructions and the notches or cut-outs shown in Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, any tendency of cars skidding on the structure is reduced to a minimum.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A grating' composed of three series of intersecting supports adapted to be assembled from the top of the grating and the upper edges of which form the surface pattern of the grating, the supports of one series being constituted of a plurality of load bearing beams arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relation, each of said beams having a relatively'thin body portion and a flange located intermediate the top edge of said body portion and the horizontal center line of such beam and closer to the latter than the former, the body portion of the beam above said ange being of substantially uniform thickness, the top edges of said flange being disposed substantially at right angles to the sides of said body portion above said iiange and forming a pair of narrow, horizontal shoulders extending longitudinally on each side of the body portion of the beam, the body portions of said beams above said flanges being provided with spaced, open slots extending downwardly from the upper edges thereof, the second series of supports being constituted of a plurality of grating bars eX- tending transversely of said beams, said grating bars being of a length to span a plurality of said beams and each being seated in the aligned slots of such beams, said grating bars having open slots extending upwardly from their lower edges to receive the body portions of said beams below said beam slots, the slots extending from the upper edges of said beams and the slots extending from the lower edges of said grating bars enabling said grating bars to be forced down from the top into interlocking relation with said beams and enabling the shoulders formed along the lower edges of said grating bars by the slots thereof to seat on said horizontal flange shoulders, said grating bars having a depth substantially the same as the depth of said beams above the flanges thereof and being provided with a plurality of spaced Slots extending downwardly from the upper edges thereof, and the third series of supports being constituted of cross bars forced down into the aligned slots on the upper edges of said @raising bams, the upper edges of said bems, grating leapsY and @ross bars lying subsbsxgtislly the same horizonial plane. and. tr-uss. bams,V extending transversely oi said beams and in a predetesmined fashion woven over and under saisi load bearing beams and having spaced 10.01v` tiims @ash of ai length as to. `extend over a plurality o; said bems and disposed in horizontal relation agojinst the top edges of said beams, said spaced truss, Hort-Lons projecting above the upper edges .of sgi@ hermans, grating bars and cross bars te m'even .skdmg .of vehices on the gra-ting.

ERNEST L. TAROF.

Ederences, Cited in the fue of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS Numb?? Dati?.

V Feb. 13, 19,40

Name

Nagin f- Feb- 13, 1.940 Tarof June 24, 1941 3 1942 June 16, 1942 

